Louise martane



(NoModeLf L. MARTANE.

MATHEMATICAL GAME.

No. 400,237. Patented Mar 26, 1889.

N. PETERS. Pnmuuw mr. Walhmginn, at;

NITED STATES ATENT @rribii.

LOUISE MARTANE, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

MATH EMATICAL GAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,237, dated March 26, 1889.

Application filed M y 14, 1888. Serial No. 273,780. (No model). Patented in France January 23, 1887, No. 188,269.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUISE MARTANE, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Paris, in the Republic of France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mathematical Games, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to mathematical games and is based upon the four rules of arithmetic, and has for its object, although very simple, to stimulate the brain to solve mathematical problems and furnish an agreeable and attractive means for the purpose; and to these ends the invention consists in a game apparatus, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates the game apparatus by an isometric view, the apparatus consists of a board, B, that is subdivided into a suitable number of squares. As shown, there are twelve rows of eleven squares, I), each. One half of these rows o'f squares is preferably of a color differing from that of the other half, and the board is thus arranged for two players.

The board B may, at opposite ends or in front of each player, be provided with a receptacle for the checkers O, which latter correspond in color to the color of the squares, each checker bearing a number or arithmetical sign, while those checkers intended for the central longitudinal row of spaces or squaresnamely, the sixth row bear the letters Pr, indicating Proof.

In addition to these, the checkers (I have a (lot under each indication thereon to facilitate the positioning thereof on the board.

Besides the marked checkers,blank checkers L" may be used for queens.

As set forth above, the invention is especially designed to facilitate the instruction of the primary rules of arithmetic, to stimulate the brain of the pupil, and to enable him to acquire with comparative ease the faculty of mentally solving problems based on these rules, and to familiarize himself with the signs used in mathematics.

The game may be played in a variety of ways, so long as it involves arithmetical problems, and so may the rules of the game be varied in avariety of ways. It will therefore be sufficient to describe one mode of playing the game in order that the invention may be fully understood, it being borne in mind that a numbered checker can take a numbered checker or a checker bearing a mathematical sign whenever such checkers are brought by one player above or below like checkers of the other player, the taking of checkers taking place always in vertical or horizontal lines of squares.

The checkers bearing mathematical signs and the word Proof cannot take a checker of any description, nor can a backward move be made with any of the checkers. Those checkers bearing the mathematical signs indicate the problems the player is desirous of solving, and each of them must be proven and performed on horizontal lines only. Thus, for example, a checker bearing a mathematical sign placed above or below a numbered checker, or beside or between checkers bearing mathematical signs, or between four numbered checkers, does not indicate operations; but when placed between a numbered checker and a blank it performs its usual function, provided the accompanying numbered checkers enable the player to solve an arithmetical problem. When a player omit-s to take a checker, he should be compelled to do so by his opponent.

In starting the game each player sets out his checkers so as to form arithmetical problems, the proof-checkers being placed in the center column, the problem on one side thereof and the proof on the opposite side, both players placing their checkers to show similar operations, as shown in the figure, there being a blank row of squares above each players game. Supposing, now, that one player moves theproof-checkcr ate the blank square 1, the other player may at once respond by moving a like checker, I), to blank square 1 on his side. The first player next moves the checker r to 1, and in turn moves the same from 1 to 1 and 1, during which time the second player has also moved his checkers ,'h, 'i, and 7c, as indicated. If, now, the first player can move his checker with the sign between the checkers I; and '1', he has solved an arithmetical problem, and says: three plus twelve is fifteen, thus scoring fifteen. It is not necessary that the sign of equality should be present to indicate the result of the addition, nor is it necessary that the total be expressed at the end of the same row of squares, the essential features being to endeavor to bring the checkers of one player in juxtaposition with the checkers of the other player, so that an aritlnnetical operation will result. Each of these operations entitles the player to as many points as the result of the operation indicates, except when he makes a subtrac tion, in which case he receives no points. In nniltiplication the player making the operation adds the product thereof to his points, and so in division; but in the latter case the rule may be made that the points of the adversary shall be divided by the quotient of the division made by the player. Thus, should, one of the players have sixty points and the other succeed in making a division the quotient of which is five, he may require the points of his opponent to be divided by five, leaving him but twelve points. It is obvious, therefore, that the endeavor of each player should be to bring about an arithmetical operation and not to take checkers except to defeat an operation that would entail a serious loss of points on one of the players. The game thus proceeds, and the player that reaches with one of his numbered checkers the last or bottom line, l, of his opponents side of the board is entitled to a queen, which, as in the ordinary game of checkers, takes in all directions.

When a player succeeds in makingan arithmetical operation on his opponents side of the board, as described, he is required to prove said operation on the proof side of his or his opponents side of the board on any one of the trz'msverse lines of squares by bringing into position on such transverse line the necessary numbered checkers and arithmetical sign or signs to produce the arithmetical formula that when solved will prove hisarithmctical operation to be correct. The rules may also require the plz'iyers to add the various vertical columns olf numbered checkers 1 they may have on their opponents side of the board before a game can be declared as Won, and indicate the sum of such addition at the foot of the column or columns on the bottom line, 1, and in order to fill out all of the squares on said bottom line, 1, either on one or both sides of the vertically-divided board those vertical columns in which nothing but arith metical signs appear may be completed by placing at the foot or on the bottom line, 1, a checker, bearing a O, a like checker being placed at the foot of the column of proofsigns; or the foot-squares of the said columns of arithmetical and proof signs may be left blank. The sum of the additions of each of the vertical columns is of course to be indicated at the foot thereof by a suitably-numbered checkerthat is to say, a checker hearing a number equal to the sum of the added column. In this manner the game may be greatly complicated and varied.

I have given one mode of playing the game; but it will be readily comprehended that it may be varied almost ad ttbif'ltli), and, in fact, will no doubt be varied by the players themselves as they become more and more prolicient to render the game more intricate and diflicult.

llaving described my invel'ltion, What I clainnand desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The herein-described matheniiatical game, consisting, essentially, of a board divided into squares, as described, and checkers bearing numbers, mathematical signs, .the word Proof, and blank checkers, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this th day of April, 'ISSR.

TAJUISE MAIt'lA'NE.

Witnesses:

Fiona M. lloorjiii-i, L ion Sci-Ln rrrB'un'L. 

